<< However, the more knowledgeable band members tend to have a disproportionate influence on musical direction. What would happen if a metal band consisted entirely of musicians with either no knowledge of metal, or only a very superficial familiarity with it? Perhaps a metal musician could recruit and ‘direct’ such a band, giving them a list of instructions and constraints to work with? How could non-metalheads help to rethink metal’s musical possibilities? >>

To me, it seems nearly impossible to not be influenced by past artistic movements, given the world’s level of connectedness. Nonetheless, I agree that an artist can successfully employ "fresh thinking" and create something "new" that becomes his/her "signature." There are innumerable degrees of independence, influence-resistance, and originality, of course. Emily Dickinson, E. E. Cummings, Mussorgsky, Paul Klee, Martha Graham, Edgar Allan Poe, & Lovecraft, come to mind. Dance improvisation and music improvisation, regardless of genre, are rich sources for future developments related to metal.

'The most original authors are not so because they advance what is new, but because they put what they have to say as if it had never been said before.' - Goethe.

I too look towards the Noise genre for fresh sounds that are challenging and exciting.

gnomebooks, thank you for the post. That book looks intriguing and I've just ordered a copy.